Photo 1. Group photo of the participants.
On 24 April 2026, the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), together with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), convened the 1st Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting of the Partnership for Energy Efficiency in Buildings in ASEAN (PEEB-ASEAN) in a virtual meeting. The meeting marked an important governance milestone for the programme, bringing together representatives from six ASEAN Member States, namely Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam, alongside representatives from ACE and AFD.
The meeting commenced with opening remarks from Dr Pongpan Vorasayan, Director of Energy Regulation and Conservation Division, Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE) Thailand and Chair of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Sub-Sector Network (EE&C-SSN) Focal Points who highlighted the growing importance of energy efficiency in ASEAN’s building sector. He noted that buildings account for approximately 22% of the region’s total final energy consumption and 21% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, with demand projected to grow by 56% by 2050 under a business-as-usual scenario. He further underlined the alignment of PEEB-ASEAN with the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026–2030, particularly in accelerating energy efficiency and conservation adoption for zero-energy buildings and promoting innovative strategies for energy efficiency technology adoption.
Photo 2. Dr Pongpan Vorasayan, Director of DEDE Thailand and Chair of EE&C-SSN Focal Points, delivering opening remarks.
Jean-Pierre Marcelli, Regional Director of AFD, followed with remarks emphasizing that energy efficiency remains one of the most affordable and competitive sources of energy. He highlighted ongoing progress under PEEB-ASEAN Component 2, including supported projects in Cambodia and Lao PDR, such as vocational training institutes, the National AI Laboratory in Cambodia, and the Savannakhet Museum renovation in Lao PDR. He also encouraged the committee to consider the Pull mechanism as a bottom-up approach that enables ACE and AFD to respond to the needs and requests of ASEAN Member States.
Photo 3. Jean Pierre Marcelli, Regional Director of AFD, delivering opening remarks.
Naing Naing Linn, Head of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Department at ACE, underscored the significance of the building sector in achieving ASEAN’s collective target of reducing regional energy intensity by 40% under APAEC 2026–2030. She also presented the importance of the programme’s four outputs under Component 1, namely Policy Landscape Analysis, Digital Hub Enhancement, Regional Capacity Building, and National Enabling Activities through the Push and Pull Mechanism. She sought the committee’s guidance on the eligibility framework, priority shortlists, and the programme work plan to ensure that PEEB-ASEAN delivers practical and measurable outcomes for ASEAN Member States.
Photo 4. Naing Naing Linn, Head of EE&C Department at ACE, delivering opening remarks.
The meeting proceeded through several agenda items, beginning with the adoption of the PSC Terms of Reference and the nomination of the PSC Chair and Co-Chairs, followed by a presentation on the strategic alignment of the PEEB-ASEAN Programme with APAEC 2026–2030. The discussion continued with the overview and progress of Component 1 (policy landscape analysis, digital hub, regional capacity building, national enabling activities) and Component 2 (investment facility), before exploring potential synergies between both components to strengthen coordination between policy support, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and investment-related activities. Furthermore, the meeting reviewed the proposed methodology and data collection approach for the Policy Landscape Analysis, including guidance on the data template and analytical framework, and discussed the Push and Pull Mechanism, particularly its proposed eligibility criteria and process for supporting national enabling activities.
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Photo 5. ACE representatives: Muhammad Zaidan Akbar (top left), Aurelia Syafina Luthfi (top right), Felix Ciosconara (bottom left), Rio Jon Piter Silitonga (bottom right), delivering agenda items presentations.
Photo 5. Mitchell Gilles-Schouchana of AFD, delivering an agenda item presentation.
The meeting concluded with several agreed ways forward. The PSC adopted its Terms of Reference, noted the progress of both Component 1 and Component 2. The committee also requested continued support from PSC members in identifying eligible building projects for Component 2 and agreed that the 2nd PSC Meeting will be held in November 2026, alongside the Capacity Building Workshop.
PEEB-ASEAN serves as a regional platform to accelerate energy efficiency in buildings through policy support, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and investment facilitation. Through the collaboration between ACE, AFD, ASEAN Member States, and development partners, the programme is expected to contribute to stronger regional cooperation, improved building energy performance, and the achievement of ASEAN’s long-term energy efficiency and climate objectives.
